Name: Start Something That Matters
Rating: 4.3 (22 reviews)
Author: Blake Mycoskie

Introduction

What’s in it for me? Learn how to overcome your fears and start your own business.

Many of us dream of starting our own business, whether that means selling handicrafts from a market stall or developing a global behemoth that influences the lives of millions of people. And yet, how many of us actually take steps to realize our dreams?

Too few. Most of us are just scared to start. We’re scared that our business won’t be successful, that we don’t have sufficient resources, that we’re not good enough to lead a company.

This kind of fear holds us back and prevents us from taking a risk. Often, we give up altogether.

These blinks will show you how to overcome your fear and deal with the challenges that arise. The author, using the in-depth knowledge he gained by starting his own company, shows you how to follow in his path and become successful while still making the world a better place.

In these blinks you’ll learn

how to recycle other people’s business cards;
why your employees deserve a reward for making mistakes; and
why you should let bad things happen.

Key idea 1 of 8

Fear is totally natural – but it can have a damaging effect on our lives when it goes unchecked.

Even though we don’t always like to admit it, all of us get scared sometimes. Fear can seem shameful or embarrassing, but the truth is, it’s perfectly natural.

That’s because fear typically arises when we encounter a situation we don’t know how to deal with or simply haven’t experienced before.

Going to a job interview, talking to strangers in a foreign language or starting a business are all typical anxiety-producing situations, because we don’t encounter them frequently and we can’t easily predict their outcome.

This fear of failure is so uncomfortable that sometimes it causes us to miss out on things we actually want to be involved in.

For example, someone who fears airplane travel will look for alternatives or might try to avoid long-distance travel altogether.

Unfortunately, in our society, we don’t like to talk openly about our fears. It can make us feel embarrassed or ashamed to be scared of something, especially if we think others will view our fears as trivial. But when we don’t talk about what we’re scared of, we often can’t overcome it. And these persistent fears can severely damage our lives.

To understand how this works, imagine a person who’s afraid of job interviews. If she doesn’t actively confront and combat her fear, she won’t be able to look for new, better jobs.

Or think of the man who’s frightened of air travel. His fear might cause him to miss out on family holidays, interesting conferences, promising job opportunities and inspiring overseas travel.

Holding on to your fear simply isn’t worth everything you might lose as a result. Or, as President Franklin D. Roosevelt famously put it, “The only thing we have to fear is fear itself.”

Key idea 2 of 8

If you want to overcome a fear, start by identifying it.

How can you overcome your fears? The best way is simply to face them: Do what you’re scared of and let whatever happens as a result, happen.

Yes, it’s scary. Fear is one of the most powerful emotions we have, so in many cases, it feels like a deadly threat.

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Key idea 3 of 8

You can never predict what’ll happen in the future – so don’t let uncertainty hold you back.

New business ventures are a natural breeding ground for fear, especially when it’s our first attempt at starting a business. It’s terrifying to know that you might take the wrong approach, fail and lose all your money. These fears prevent many people from taking the leap at all.

We needn’t be so scared. Some of this fear comes from the misguided assumption that we need to have tons of expertise and experience to embark on something new. That way, we’ll be able to predict exactly what’ll happen.

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Key idea 4 of 8

If you want to create something successful, keep it as simple as possible.

When we encounter something very complicated, we tend to think that it must be very sophisticated. So when we look, for example, at a big city map with multiple lines and train stations, we are awed by this impressive feat of urban planning.

However, this way of thinking is misguided. When you live in a big city, the number of delays and cancellations you encounter on that “sophisticated” subway should prove that complexity doesn’t always equal brilliance.

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Key idea 5 of 8

It’s possible to grow a successful business with limited resources.

So we’ve learned that simplicity can benefit us in our life and work. Well, another great thing about simple products and solutions is that they don’t demand many resources.

For example, the author’s wildly successful shoe business (and philanthropic organization) TOMS proves that it’s possible to make the very best of limited resources:

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Key idea 6 of 8

Stretch your personal network and surround yourself with like-minded people to build a motivated, enthusiastic team.

Few successful businesses have been built by hermits. In order for your new venture to succeed, you’ll need a lot of help from other people – be they acquaintances or staff.

To draw people in, start by mapping out your personal network. Make a list of friends, family members and colleagues you know.

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Key idea 7 of 8

A “good” company has giving at its core and a sense of humor about its own mistakes.

What kind of business do you want to run? One that’s respected by its employees and the community around it, or one that is universally reviled but at least makes a lot of money?

Most people would probably go with the first option, but why? What are the benefits of being a “good” company?

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Key idea 8 of 8

When it comes to marketing a product, storytelling is far better than plain facts.

Let’s say your business is now up and running, and you’ve got a great product to sell. But what’s the best way to market it?

It can be tempting to use lots of facts and statistics to communicate with your customer, but in fact, the best way to make your product appealing is to tell a good story. Vivid stories are more memorable and convincing than straight facts.

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Start Something That Matters summary